Swimming pool edge structure



y 9, 1961 R. E. KENNEDY 2,982,970

SWIMMING POOL EDGE STRUCTURE Filed 001". 2 958 I;/4 I 3 l I J, W I

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INVENTOR. ROBERT EVAN KE N N E DY BUCKHORN CHEATHAM ABLORE ATTORNEYS United States Patent O This invention relates to a swimming pool edge structure and more particularly to a structure in which a grating having openingstherethrough is disposed along the edge of the pool was to cover a scum gutter and an overflow weir for water enteringlthe scum gutter from the pool.

Although many swimming pools are not provided with Patented May 9, 1961 ice stantially to the edge of the pool.

Another object of the invention is to provide a swimming pool edge structure in which a grating structure is employed to cover a scum gutterand also a Weir between the scum gutter and the pool and is etfective to continue the general surface of the deck surrounding the pool to a scum, gutter, it is desirable that there be a continuous so as to be separated from the-pool by a continuous weir extending along the edge of the pool. The latter structure does enable the surface of the water in the pool to approach the upper surface of the deck so as to increase the utility and attractiveness of the pool, but such structure results in an irregular, surface immediately adjacent the edge of the pool. Such ixregularsurface is notonly unsightly but constitutes a dangerous hazard to usersfof the pool. Furthermore, swimmers sitting or standing'at the edge of the pool are in constant contact with the scum or dirty water overflowing the edge of the pool into the scum gutter.

In accordance with the present invention, a swimming pooledge structure is provided by which the upper surface of the deck is continued to or substantially to the edge of the pool, but at the same time the scum gutter is spaced from the edge of the pool by a weir so that surface of the water in the pool can be made to approach the surface ofthe deck. This is accomplished by pro viding a grating structure which covers the scum gutter and weir and which includes grating members and also support elements therefor spacing the grating members from the top of the weir so that the upper surfaces of the grating structure forms a continuation of the surface of the deck. The edge of the grating structure adjacent the pool is provided with an upwardly arched, reinforcing rim having a curved upper surface so as to provide a hand hold portion which can be grasped by swimmers in the pool. Such rim, in conjunction with the relatively high level of the water in the pool, enables swimmers to easily move from the pool onto the surface of the deck. The various grating members are positioned adjacent each other to form a continuous grating structure along the edge of the pool so that swimmers sitting or standing at the edge of the poolare supported on a surface above the dirty water being discharged from the pool.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved swimming pool edge structure in which a scum gutter, is covered by a grating structure in a manner enabling the level of the water in the pool to approach the surface of the surrounding deck while at are elongated slots 28 extending at right angles to the substantially the edge of the pool, while at the same time maintaining the water in the pool. at a level which approaches the upper surface of the deck.

Another object of the invention is to provide a swimming pool edge structure which is effective to support swimmers sitting or standing at the edge of the'pool upon a surface above the scum gutter so as to be out of contact with dirty water being dischargedto waste and which at the same time enables the maintenance-of the upper surface of the water in the pool at a level approaching the surface of the'deck surrounding the pool.

Another object of the invention is to provide an 'improvedgrating structure for the edge of a swimming pool in which water from the pool can continuously overflow into a scum gutter at a level approaching the upper surface of the deck surrounding the. pool, :and in which grat- 1 ing members continuing the surface of the deck to sub-. stantially the edgeofthe pool can be easily removedfor cleaning such scum gutter. i 1 y A further objectof theinvention' is to provide a grating structure for the edgeof, a pool in which a plurality of removable'grating members are employed and' the grating structure has at the edge of the pool an upwardly extending arcuate ridge for grasping by'the users of swimming pool.

Other objects and advantages of the invention appear in the following detailed description .of preferred embodiments thereof shown in the attached drawing of front of one of the grating members of Figs. -2 and 3v in position at the edge of a pool;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view showing the upper.

surface of a corner grating member on a somewhat reduced scale from the scale of Figs. 2 to 4, inclusive, and;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 on a reduced scale showing a modified swimming pool edge structure.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, a swimming pool 10 is shown in Fig. 1 as being surrounded bya deck 12 and as having a-plurality'of grating members 14 along the edge of the pool and also corner gratingv members 16 at the corners of the pool. 'As shown most clearly in Fig. 3, the edge of the pool 10 is bounded by a weir 18 formed in the concreteor other structural material of the pool. A scum gutter 20 is also formed in the edge structure of the pool and is separated from the pool by the weir 18. The weir 18 thus forms the termination of the upper portion of the wall 22 of the pool.. Preferably the top surface 24 of the weir 18 is inclined, downwardly in a direction away from the edge of the pool so that any water overflowing the weir 18 immediately adjacent such edge is caused to flow downwardly into the scum gutter 20.

The grating members 14 extending along theedges of the pool each have a flat body portion 26 provided with a plurality of-openings which in the embodiment shown the i V 3 edge of the pool. The slots are preferably divided into two sections spaced from each other in a direction perpendicular to the edge of the pool by a central reinforcing portion 30. The slots 28 adjacent the edge of the pool terminate short of the edge of the grating member14 and such edge of the grating member is formed into an upwardly arched, generally semicircular, reinforcing rim 32 immediately adjacent the edge of the pool providing hand hold portions for swimmers in the pool. The grating members 14 are also each provided with a plurality of downwardly extending support elements 34 positioned below the arched rim 32 and preferably located at the lateral edges of the grating members. elements 34 rest upon the upper surface 24 of the weir 18 adjacent the edge of thepool and provide openings 36 below the grating members 14 through which water may flow from the surface of the pool over the weir 18 into the scum gutter 20. The opposite edge of each of the grating members 14 is provided with a downwardly extending reinforcing flange 38. The flange 38 provides for securing the grating members to the edge of the deck 12 and such edge of the deck 12 is provided with an attaching structure 40 for receiving the flange 38.

The attaching structure 40 includes a longitudinally extending angle member 42 having its interior angle facing the pool and its flanges extending vertically and horizontally. Spaced lugs 44 extendfrom the exterior face of the vertical flange in. alignment with the horizontal flange for holding the attaching structure in place. In installing such attaching structure, the edge of the pool including the weir 18, scum gutter 20 and a supporting portion 46 for the attaching structure are first formed of concrete or otherwise installed, and the attaching structure 40 is then bolted to the upper surface of the supporting portion 46 by bolts 48 cast into such supporting portion. After installation of the attaching structure 40, the bolts 48 and lugs 44 are covered by grout to form the portion 50. The horizontal or base flange of the angle member 42 has a plurality of upwardly extending lugs 52 longitudinally spaced therealong and positioned on the edge of the base flange adjacent the scum gutter 20. Such lugs 52 provide notches 54 for receiving the flanges 38 on the grating members 14 to hold such grating members accurately in position with the upper surface of the grating structure forming a continuation of the upper surface of the deck 12.

The corner grating members 16 of Fig. may be similar in construction to the grating member 14, except thatthe flanges 38 extend along adjacent edges of the members which are at right angles to each other and the rim 32 is replaced by a square rim element 56 at one corner of the member 16. Also, the corner grating members 16 may have a diagonal central reinforcing portion 58 dividing areas in which the slots 26 are at right angles to each other.

It will be apparent that the grating members 14 and 16 provide an upper surface which forms a continuation of the upper surface of the deck 12 so that a smooth surface is provided around the edge of the pool for users of the pool. This smooth surface extends to nearly the edge of the pool. The portion of the grating members immediately adjacent the edge of the pool, however, provides an upwardly arched substantially semicircular hand hold portion which can be grasped by users of the pool. The scum gutter 20 is entirely covered by the grating members but any water deposited on the surface of the deck 12 does not again enter the pool but flows into the scum gutter 20. For this purpose the upper surface of the deck 12 is preferably given a slight gradient toward the pool. The deck can thus be washed with water without contaminating the water in the pool. Even any water dripping from bathers directly above the edge of the pool passes through the openings provided by the slots 26 and either directly enters the scum gutter 20 or Such support strikes .the inclined surface 24 of the weir 18 so that it is conducted into the scum gutter 20.

The surface of the water in the pool is determined by the extreme upper edge of the weir 18 and as indicated in Fig. 3, may be only slightly below the upper surface of the deck 12. Nevertheless, the pool is constantly skimmed by water flowing over the Weir 18 and any water which leaves the edge of the pool over the uppermost portion of the weir flows down the surface 24 into the gutter 20. It will, of course, be apparent that the scum gutter 20 will be connected to a disposal conduit (not shown) so as to discharge to waste. 6

The grating members 14 and 16 may be easily and individually lifted from the position shown so as to ex pose the top of the weir and gutter 20 for cleaning, and such members may again be as easily replaced. They are preferably made of a light, corrosion resistant metal, such as aluminum, so that they may be easily handled and can be given an attractive surface, such as an anodized surface. The opening 36 between the top of the weir 18 and the reinforced rim 32 is preferably made of a size which will accommodate the fingers of a bather without causing injury should they be inserted in such opening so as to lift the particular grating member 14 and then the grating forced down by someone standing thereon. For example, such opening may have a height of approximately one inch. i

A modified swimming pool edge structure is shown in Fig. 6. Such structure includes grating members 60 in the form of flat plates having slots 62 therein. Such grating members cover a scum gutter 64 separated from the wall 66 of the pool by a weir 68 having an upper surface 70 which'is inclined downwardly from the edge of the pool toward the scum gutter 64. The edge of the weir adjacent the pool and the top of the weir is preferably protected by a channel member 72 of metal, such as aluminum, having a web portion forming a vertical continuation of the wall 66 of'thepool and a flange portion forming the top of the weir. Also the bottom corner of the scum gutter 64 remote from the pool may be formed by a metal angle member 74.

The edge structure also includes a support structure 76 for the pool edge of the grating members 60. Such support structure 76 includes a longitudinally extending metal member having an upwardly arched substantially semicircular hand hold portion 78 extending along the edge of the pool and a flange portion 80 extending horizontally toward the deck 82 and forming a support for an edge of the grating members 60. A plurality of spaced support elements 84 preferably in the form of metal tubes welded to the bottom surfaces of the flange portion 80 extend downwardly from such flange portions through suitable apertures (not shown) in the channel member 72, and have their lower ends embedded in the body of the weir 68.

. The other edge of the grating members 60 are received upon'and supported by a vertically depressed horizontal flange of a Z-shaped member 86 secured to the deck 82 and forming the boundary between such deck and the scum gutter 64. Such member 86 may be fastened to the edge of the deck 82 by any suitable means, such as bolts, one of which is indicated in dotted lines at 88. The edge structure of Fig. 6 can be installed by first forming in concrete or otherwise installing the wall 66 and base 90 of deck structure and thereafter placing the channel member 72 and support portion 76 in position after which the weir and scum gutter are formed from grout. The angle member 74 and Z-shaped member may then be secured in position and the grating members installed on top of the horizontal flanges of the support structure 76 and Z-shaped member 86. The structure of Fig. 6 also enables the grating members to be easily removed for cleaning therebeneath and such members may be of sufficient length that they remain in position by their own weight or alternatively may be secured in position by any known or suitable releasable fastening devices.

While I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is understood that the details thereof may be varied and that the scope of the invention is to be determined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A swimming pool top perimeter structure for a swimming pool having a wall with a vertically extending exposed Wall surface and having a swimming pool deck with a horizontally extending upper surface, said structure having a scum gutter in said deck and spaced horizontally from said vertically extending surface by an upwardly extending wall portion, said wall portion having its highest elevation adjacent said vertically extending surface and adjacent but at a lower elevation than said horizontally extending surface and having its top surface inclined dovmwardly toward said scum gutter, a grating extending over said scum gutter and said wall portion and having an upper surface forming a continuation of said horizontally extending surface, said structure having a support for said grating on the side of said scum gutter remote from said vertical surface and also having a plurality of supports for said grating spaced along the perimeter of said pool and extending between the upper portion of said wall portion and the portion of said grating adjacent said vertically extending surface which grating is freely supported on said supports.

2. A swimming pool top perimeter structure for a swimming pool having a wall with a vertically extending exposed wall surface and having a swimming pool deck with a horizontally extending upper surface, said structure having a scum gutter in said deck and spaced horizontally from said vertically extending surface by an upwardly extending Wall portion, said wall portion having its highest elevation adjacent said vertically extending surface and adjacent but at a lower elevation than said horizontally extending surface and having its top surface inclined downwardly toward said scum gutter, a grating extending over said scum gutter and said wall portion and having an upper surface forming a continuation of said horizontally extending surface, said structure having a support for said grating on the side of said scum gutter remote from said vertical surface and also having a plurality of supports for said grating spaced along the perimeter of said pool and extending between the upper portion of said wall portion and the portion of said grating adjacent said vertically extending surface which grating is freely supported on said supports, the supports spaced along the perimeter of said pool being integral with and extending downwardly from said portion of said grating and resting upon the upper portion of said wall portion.

3. A swimming pool top perimeter structure for a swimming pool having a wall with a vertically extending exposed wall surface and having a swimming pool deck with a horizontally extending upper surface, said structure having a scum gutter in said deck and spaced horizontally from said vertically extending surface by an upwardly extending wall portion, said wall portion having its highest elevation adjacent said vertically extending surface and adjacent but at a lower elevation than said horizontally extending surface and having its top surface inclined downwardly toward said scum gutter, a grating extending over said scum gutter and said wall portion and having an upper surface forming a continuation of said horizontally extending surface, said structure having a support for said grating on the side of said scum gutter remote from said vertical surface and also having a plurality of supports for said grating spaced along the perimeter of said pool and extending between the upper portion of said wall portion and the portion of said grating adjacent said vertically extending surface which grating is freely supported on said supports, said grating being divided into a plurality of sections extending along said perimeter and said support remote from said vertically extending surface including a detachable connection between said sections and said deck for preventing lateral displacement of said sections while enabling detachment of said sections for cleaning of said scum gutter.

4. A swimming pool top perimeter structure for a swimming pool having a wall with a vertically extend-t ing exposed wall surface and having a swimming pool deck with a horizontally extending upper surface, said structure having a scum gutter in said deck and spaced horizontally from said vertically extending surface by an upwardly extending wall portion, said wall portion having its highest elevation adjacent said vertically extending surface and adjacent but at a lower elevation than said horizontally extending surface and having its top surface inclined downwardly toward said scum gutter, a grating extending over said scum gutter and said wall portion and having an upper surface forming a continuation of said horizontally extending surface, said structure having a support for said grating on the side of said scum gutter remote from said vertical surface and also having a plurality of supports for said grating spaced along the perimeter of said pool and extending between the upper portion of said wall portion and the portion of said grating adjacent said vertically extending surface which grating is freely supported on said supports, the supports spaced along the perimeter of said pool being fixed in the upper portion of said wall portion and extending upwardly therefrom, said grating being divided into a plurality of sections resting on said supports and being removable for cleaning said scum gutter.

5. A swimming pool top perimeter structure for a swimming pool having a wall with a vertically extending exposed wall surface and 'having a swimming pool deck with a horizontally-extending upper surface, said structure having a scum gutter in said deck and spaced horizontally from said vertically extending surface by an upwardly extending wall portion, said wall portion having its highest elevation adjacent said vertically extending surface and adjacent but at a lower elevation than said horizontally extending surface and having its top surface inclined downwardly toward said scum gutter, a grating extending over said scum gutter and said wall portion and having an upper surface forming a continuation of said horizontally extending surface, said structure having a support for said grating on the side of said scum gutter remote from said vertical surface and also having a plurality of supports for said grating spaced along the perimeter of said pool and extending between the upper portion of said wall portion and the portion of said grating adjacent said vertically extending surface which grating is freely supported on said supports, said grating structure terminating adjacent said vertically extending surface in an upwardly arched hand hold.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 687,714 Banwell Dec. 3, 1901 814,308 Marriott Mar. 6, 1906 1,461,026 Booraem July 10, 1923 1,585,766 Rohmer May 25, 1926 1,797,397 Booraem et a1. Mar. 24, 1931 1,908,332 Eichelman et a1. May 9, 1933 

